Feb 14, 2007

THE WICHITAN The Student Voice of Midwestern State University

Wednesday Feb. 14, 2007

Free copies of New York Times now available at MSU MINNA GILLIAM SCHRAEDER FOR THE WICHITAN

For the first time, students can pick up daily copies of The New York Times on newsstands around campus. Whatʼs more, theyʼre free.

The New York Times Readership Program was launched this spring.

It is part of the American Democracy Project Committee, a national project sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and The New York Times.

“The American Democracy Project is an action-oriented response to the decline in civic engagement within our society, especially younger generations,” Keith Lamb,

associate vice president of student affairs, said..

“As a participating American Democracy Project institution, MSUʼs American Democracy Project committee felt it was important to offer this free resource to students and to encourage faculty to integrate it into their courses,” Lamb said.

The New York Times is the only paper offered in the New York Times Readership Program. About 200 papers are distributed on campus five days per week. It is estimated that this program will cost about $2,400 per semester. The newspapers are only available in the Clark Student Center and residence halls. This expense does not come out of student fees.

Dr. Millie Gore, professor of

counseling and special eduto begin seeing disabilities in cation, said she utilizes many different contexts,” the New York Dr. Gore said. “In class, Times Readerthey learn about disship Program abilities, but they use The New p e r sonalYork Times ly and to extend protheir f e s learnsioning beally. yond the “My classroom students by seeing the use The impact of disNew York ability in real-life contexts.”

T i m e s regularly.

USA Today introIn my ex- ADRIAN MCCANDLESS | THE WICHITAN duced the USA Today ceptional Readership Program individuals classes, I want students to MSU in 2001. According to

Lamb, it offers a value-added service to MSUʼs residential students.

It provides free newspapers in the residence halls and the Sunwatcher Village clubhouse and is sponsored by the Office of Housing and Residence Life.

“USA Today, among others, noticed a steady decline in the number of young adults participating in reading a daily newspaper; many young people either received their news from the Internet or did not receive news at all,” Lamb said. “In this vein, the newspaper industry, as did we, felt it was important to make the news easily accessible for college students.”

USA Today, The Times Record News, and the Dallas Morning News are three papers included in the

Color of Controversy Racial inequality a black-and-white matter MELISSA DOS PRAZERES-SILVA FOR THE WICHTAN

T

HERSHEL SELF | THE WICHITAN Roland Fryer discusses issues of racial inequality during a lecture on Friday as part of the Artist-Lecture Series.

he underachievement of blacks in Amercian society remains an ongoing issue today, even after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, a Harvard economist said Friday night.

Roland G. Fryer, Jr., speaking as part of the Artist-Lecture Series, said the problem cannot be blamed solely on discrimination.

Fryer cited some alarming statistics.

“The average 17-year-old black American reads at the level of the average 13-year-old white American,” he explained.

Fryer pointed out the average life expectancy for a black American is six years shorter than a white American and one in four black males are incarcerated.

He said his goal is to find a framework within which to interpret these facts and determine whether black culture is a cause or a consequence of racial inequality.

He said he also seeks to help motivate and encourage young black students.

Fryerʼs approach to this mission is, at times, controversial.

He has weathered criticism for providing third graders with monetary incentives based on their academic performance. In New York and Dallas, Fryer rewarded black students with cash for reading more books and earning good grades.

“People want third graders to do well in school and wait 10 years for their reward,” said Fryer, who attended the University of Texas at Arlington on a football scholarship.

“We need incentives narrowly targeted to achievement.”

Fryer believes science and community action are the roads to solving issues of racial inequality. According to him, politicians donʼt have the solution, nor should they be expected to.

“We wouldnʼt want them to solve our cholesterol problems because they donʼt know anything about that. What makes us think they know anything about racial inequality?” he said.

Fryerʼs ideas are so revolutionary that he has attracted the attention of heavy-hitters such as 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama. Obama has invited Fryer to be his educational policy adviser.

Fryerʼs work and findings on racial inequality in the fields of economics and African-American studies have attracted the attention of not just academics, but of anyone interested in what it means to be black in America today.

Clearly, Fryer has made substantial progress in solving the racial inequality conundrum, but he concedes there remains a long road ahead.

“Weʼve failed the last 30 years. We now need a method to figure out solutions,” Fryer said. “Are we scared of the answers?”

USA Today Readership Program.

Roughly 200 of each of the three papers are distributed on-campus five days per week. The expense of this program is approximately $5,200 per semester. This expense does not come out of student fees.

The readership programs are available to students living on-campus at no cost. The New York Times is free to students, faculty and staff.

The only time the programs are not available to MSU is when classes are not in session.

Audrey Nixon, a sophomore majoring in business management, believes there are many benefits to the readership programs at MSU. “I read certain sections of the

See Times page 6

Student bodies wanted KRYSTLE CAREY MANAGING EDITOR

For some students, college life can be boring. With a full load of classes, tons of homework and dreary jobs, one can easily be tempted to use the leftover time for just bumming around.

But thereʼs a better alternative.

Many campus organizations exist to relieve students of their boredom and give them a different kind of college experience.

These groups gathered Tuesday in the Clark Student Center Atrium to show students what they have to offer. About a dozen organizations were represented including the Phonathon, University Programming Board, Alpha Phi Sorority and Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Elena Martinez, a junior bilingual education major and Phonathon representative, stood at one of the tables with candy, information and a smile.

“Weʼre looking for people to hire,” she gushed. “Itʼs a good job to have on campus and we work with your schedule.”

The Phonathon, which gets donations for the MSU Annual Fund, is currently looking for students to take weekend shift positions. Martinez said about 16 people work a shift.

For students who are interested See Fair page 6

Old vice finds fresh face on the Internet

INSIDE

The world of gambling has slowly been sweeping the nation, but for college students the means of gambling have become a lot more accessible.

Internet gambling provides an opportunity to earn an easy dollar from the comfort of your own computer. It also has its downside.

The first online gambling site came to be in 1996, and the same year Micro gaming, the most popular developer of online software, came to be.

Two years later, the government attempted to pass a bill that prohibited online gambling but failed.

By 2001, more than 8 million accounts had been established on gambling sites.

Popular online sites like PartyPoker.com, Bo-Dawg.com and Paradise.com are some of the sites

receiving the most hits.

It is estimated by the year 2009, online poker sites will raise around $17 billion.

A 2005 survey by the University of Pennsylvaniaʼs Annenberg Public Policy Center showed 26 percent of male college students gambled

“

from the pressure of their indicative studies,” Long Island Press reported.

With gambling at our fingertips, the ability to lose money has risen.

All it takes is punching in a debit card or credit card number, investing a given amount into the online

just as alcohol and tobacco can.

People can be successful when gambling, just as senior Kelly Fisher has been.

After gambling online for six months, he has come out over $10,000 in positive numbers, although he admits it is easy to get in over your head.

“There was a two-day period in which I made $9,000. I started the day with $75, and before I knew it, I had about three grand. After that, I started playing at poker tables with larger blinds, and within 30 minutes I had made $9,000,” he said.

Junior Cody Koetter admitted to letting Fisher play with his money because he was confident his friend would make him money.

Fisher turned $50 into $350 in a couple hours.

He also stated that when he is not busy and has time to possibly make a few extra dollars, he signs on to play poker.

Not only have I lost money from my bank account through my debit card, I have also literally gambled away the majority of my semester loan.

online at least once a month, and nearly 10 percent of all college students gambled online at some time last year.

“In todayʼs digital-enabled age of computers, college students are easily drawn to the world of online gambling as they look for an escape

“

RYAN HATCHER FOR THE WICHTIAN

site and gambling away.

MSU student Donny Brown said, “Not only have I lost money from my bank account through my debit card, I have also literally gambled away the majority of my semester loan.”

Gambling can become addictive

‘Hannibal Rising’

DVD Releases

This movie isn’t fitting to the Hannibal Lecter mold.

Two Academy Award hopefuls released on DVD.

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SUNKYU YOO-NORRIS | THE WICHITAN

Angelo State rams Mustangs Lady Mustangs drop from four-way tie to third place in the Lone Star Conference South. page 8

Sweepstakes Winner 2006 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association

THE WICHITAN

VIEWPOINTS

Finalist 2004 Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award

Feb. 14, 2007

Staff Editorial

Extra! Extra!

People should treasure newspapers.

Starting this spring semester, The New York Times is available for free—yes, free—five days a week in Clark Student Center, as long as classes are in session.

So why arenʼt more students doing back flips for joy?

Unfortunately, today barely more than half of Americans read a newspaper during the week. The number of newspapers in this country has declined steadily for the past two decades, dropping almost 1 percent each year.

And itʼs not just young readers. Though only 40 percent of people aged 18 to 24 read a paper on weekdays, people of all ages (under 65) are reading less.

Part of this problem can be attributed to the changes of technology. People have the opportunity to check the news on TV or the Internet.

But these other forms of media arenʼt the same as opening a freshly printed paper in the morning at breakfast.

TV news, though it has moving pictures, does not cover stories as in-depth as a newspaper might.

Stories on TV are only allotted a couple of minutes, sometimes seconds, basically to get headline and the major facts across. Newspapers offer more.

They offer the deeper details of the story you want to know.

The Internet also falls short of newspapers in that readers are mostly limited to quick bits of information that havenʼt been well-developed by a paid journalist. Blogs are often one-sided and online advertisements are more than irritating. Also, staring at a computer screen can be hard on the eyes, and computers with big screens tend to be cumbersome to transport. Besides, itʼs so much easier, if you havenʼt finished reading a story, to tuck a paper under your arm and take it to your next destination rather than having to shut down, unplug and pack a laptop in a case.

People also need to trust their news providers.

When we are presented with news, we want it to come from a traditionally reliable source. The New York Times gives us top-notch writers we know and depend on. Aspiring journalists drool at the thought of working for such a prestigious paper.

Despite TV and the Internet, the bottom line is this: Our generation is one of complacency. People are disinterested in the world around them. They prefer to live in the universes of their minds, remain in their cliques and avoid the real issues of this country and this world.

You cannot disagree. America is in such lousy shape when it comes to caring about news and the world around us that only half of the population votes.

When you pick up your copy of The Wichitan, go to the Clark Student Center and also grab a copy of The New York Times. Get informed about the world and its many crucial issues.

The future of this age-old tradition depends on you.

3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 • Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 News Desk (940) 397-4704 • Advertising Desk (940) 397-4705 Fax (940) 397-4025 • E-mail WICHITAN@mwsu.edu Web site: http://www.mwsu.edu/~wichitan Copyright © 2007. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. The Wichitan reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication.

Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University. First copy of the paper is free of charge; additional copies are $1. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address for verification purposes. The editor retains the right to edit letters.

Race, gender not factors in 2008 election I think itʼs okay to be scared s o m e times.

Weʼre all human.

I have to admit, Iʼm scared of KONNIE SEWELL some stuCOPY EDITOR pid stuff.

Iʼm 21 years old and Iʼm still afraid of the dark. I usually have to sleep with either the TV or my bedside lamp on. Iʼm also scared of anything having to do with tornados.

Iʼve lived in Wichita Falls all my life, so Iʼve grown up with all the stories and the sirens blaring on the first Monday of the month. Itʼs gotten better now that Iʼm older, but even when Iʼm on campus and I hear the tests, or when Iʼm away from home and itʼs cloudy on a spring or summer day, I still get freaked out.

I think these are silly things to be afraid of, but I donʼt really care because theyʼre rational fears. Itʼs one thing to be afraid of tornados and the dark; itʼs another to be afraid of toilet paper or Valentinesʼ candy.

Now, the really silly (and irrational) thing to be afraid of is change.

If youʼre going to be hardcore

about it, change happens every single second of every single day.

Thereʼs nothing we can really do about it, either. Weʼre humans, not gods, remember?

The times they are a-changinʼ and, indeed, a change is gonna come So accept it, even if you donʼt particularly like it. Donʼt criticize what you canʼt understand. Accept the fact that a woman or a black man may soon become president of the United States. There are people who like to go around chorusing, “Is America ready?”

After 231 years, Iʼd imagine so.

Time magazine featured Barack Obama on the cover of the Oct. 23, 2006 issue. The Nov. 13, 2006 issue ran a letter to the editor from Michael P. Delaney of Pasadena, Texas: “Hell will freeze over and the devil will be on ice skates before the South will ever support a mixedrace liberal Democrat for President.

There are still a lot of people down here who believe that miscegenation (which, like abortion, used to be a crime) remains immoral and sinful. Add to that Obamaʼs al-Qaeda-sounding name, and itʼs plain that he has no chance of being elected President.”

Is this dude serious?

No, really, I want to know. Is he stating a personal opinion or is he just making an observation?

But then, right above that letter was one from Bill Longtine of Evansville, Ind.: “Obama may not be our savior, but he has the charisma and capability to be our Moses and lead us out of the wilderness.”

It is time to stop fearing someoneʼs gender or ethnicity. The main question should be if he or she is qualified for the job. It is illegal to refuse someone a job in the United States based on gender or ethnicity.

This applies to the position of president as well.

But when Clinton and Obama make a mistake - if they havenʼt already, they will soon - these are generally chalked up to her being a woman and his being black.

If you are going to fear a person, then fear his or her ideals and policies, but never the things about themselves they cannot change.

If you are not sure about your feelings on Obama, donʼt blame these fears on his being half Kenyan. If anything, blame your fears on his inexperience.

If you are not sure about your feelings on Hillary Clinton, donʼt blame your fears on her being a soft, weak-willed female. That is

an easy, ignorant route. If anything, blame your fears on her being wishy-washy over the war in Iraq.

Come, mothers and fathers throughout the land. Your sons and daughters are beyond your command and weʼre ashamed of what weʼre seeing. We are ashamed to see the odds are against Obama and Clinton simply because they are who they are - no woman or black has been president before, so itʼs highly unlikely theyʼll actually get a shot this time around.

Yes, they are different. And they are just what we need. We need to be reminded daily of the diversity of life. The world is much, much larger than little Wichita Falls, than pequena Texas, than la petite United States.

The world is not comprised of just white people, or just black people, or just Hispanic people, or just Japanese people, or just males or just females. The world is filled with a little of each.

Maybe Iʼm nothing but a writer and a critic trying but failing to prophesize with my pen. But Iʼm keeping my eyes wide because itʼs possible this chance wonʼt come again.

Itʼs been a long, long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come.

I ʼ v e never had much luck on Vale n t i n e ʼs Day. I donʼt actually k n o w why but someADRIAN MCCANDLESS t h i n g PHOTO EDITOR would always happen to ensure I had a less than lucky day Feb. 14th.

When I was younger and in the puppy-love stage, I liked this boy named Dru. He was so cute for a 7th grader.

The only problem was he and my best friend Katy liked each other.

Katy and Dru didnʼt work out and he and I officially started “dating” a little after the big day for love.

Even though we dated through out our teenage years, we never seemed to have that magical Valentineʼs Day I dreamed of as a child.

After Dru and I parted ways, I spent the next Valentineʼs Day pretty much hating life.

I sat in my room and wallowed in sorrow, listening to boy bands like NʼSync and 98 Degrees.

Things werenʼt looking up for me in 2002. The summer before my senior year, I met my future boyfriend and my first love.

Our mutual friend brought him to my end-of-the-summer bash and needless to say, I wasnʼt impressed.

It took me a few days to realize I was head over heels for him.

I kept my feelings for Bobby hidden from anyone for six long months.

Valentineʼs Day started creeping up on me fast, and I was going to use the big day to tell Bobby how I felt.

For two weeks, I plotted and schemed of the perfect way to let Bobby know how I felt. As lame as it was, my plan was to go up to him between class periods and give him a bag of Hersheyʼs kisses.

I even practiced what I was going to say: “Hereʼs a kiss for you on Valentineʼs Day.” As awesome as that was, I chickened out and ended up giving the bag of candy to a mutual friend of ours.

Yet another Valentineʼs Day

passed where I had no one.

This time, instead of listening to sappy love songs, I kicked myself for not telling Bobby how I felt about him.

I spent the next two Valentineʼs days single.

The first Valentineʼs Day, my roommate and I spent the evening listening to George Straitsʼ “Iʼd Like to Have That One Back” and drinking Jim Bean.

We reverted to being helplessly sad girls hopelessly longing for what we couldnʼt have.

The next big day for love we spent watching sappy chick flicks and polishing off three trays of JellO shots.

I gave up on finding that perfect Valentine and went to bed that night.

I simply did not care anymore.

The weekend after S.A.D. (Singles Awareness Day) Bethany and I decided to go play pool. She decided to invite her friends Chuck and Casey.

We met up at the pool hall and Chuck immediately caught my eye. I became even more intrigued when I witnessed him down a whole pitcher of beer, and I knew he was

the one for me. We went on our first date March 4.

The next Valentineʼs Day I was pumped because finally I was with the perfect guy. Both Chuck and I were broke, so he decided to cook me dinner by candlelight with one single rose in a vase on the table.

There was only one problem.

Chuckʼs roommate Casey decided to stay in the living room throughout our entire “romantic” dinner.

To make things worse, while Chuck and I were whispering sweet nothings to each other, Casey let one rip. I am talking about the kind of fart that makes you have to leave the room.

I was crushed that I still did not get my perfect Valentineʼs date.

I have come to the conclusion that I will never have the perfect Valentineʼs Day. And you know what?

I am fine with that because Chuck and I have been happily married for the last eight months.

So if you have a hot date on Valentineʼs, then more power to you.

But if you are single, donʼt fret because the person who could change your life might just appear on St. Patrickʼs Day.

Valentineʼs Day not always flowers, candy

THE WICHITAN Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Carrie Sullivan Managing Editor Krystle Carey Entertainment Editor Jason Kimbro Sports Editor Josh Mujica Photo Editor Adrian McCandless

Reporters Matt Hulme Richard Carter Christian McPhate LaTia Banks Photographers Hershel Self Lauren Miller Graphic Artist SunKyu Yoo-Norris

Advertising Manager Christian McPhate Copy Editor Konnie Sewell

Adviser Randy Pruitt

OP-ED

THE WICHITAN Feb. 14, 2007

3

Valentineʼs wishes to the IRS The horrid day is almost upon us, and the never ending shelling out of our hardearned money has begun yet

CHRISTIAN MCPHATE STAFF REPORTER again.

It is a disastrous day formed through the love of our forefathers.

It is a day that began in the early stages of the Civil War and continued through the centuries, leaving a horde of starving children in its wake.

In 1862, the federal income tax was born, levying a 3 percent tax on the citizens who made over $600 and rose to 5 percent for the incomes over $10,000.

In 1864, the government was enamored with the greenery flowing through the nationʼs Capitol and raised the rates.

The citizens, feeling the loss of the governmentʼs love, formed together under the spirit of the Boston Tea Party and began complaining about the tax hikes.

The Supreme Court answered the peopleʼs call and smacked down certain parts of the statute, stating that it was unconstitutional to tax the citizensʼ hard earned wages.

The love-struck Congress, feeling the jealousy of the people, enacted the 16th Amendment into the nationʼs Constitution, a document that granted the citizens of this nation the freedom from the burden of the monarchyʼs taxation.

It was the beginning of a long history of tax hikes.

Since that beloved time our government has given birth to a slew of taxes, including: Accounts receivable tax, Alterna-

tive Minimum Tax (AMT), Building permit tax, capital gains tax; CDL license tax, cigarette tax, corporate income tax, court fines, dog license tax; excise tax, federal income tax, federal unemployment tax (FUTA); FICA tax, fishing license tax, food license tax, fuel permit tax; gasoline tax, gift tax, hunting license tax, inheritance tax interest expense; inventory tax, IRS interest charges, IRS penalties, liquor tax; local income tax, luxury taxes, marriage license tax, Medicare tax; property tax, real estate tax, recreational vehicle tax, road toll booth taxes, road usage taxes; sales tax, equivalent use tax, school tax, septic permit taxes; service charge tax, Social Security tax, state income tax, state unemployment tax (SUT); telephone federal excise tax, telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes, telephone federal universal fee tax, telephone minimum usage surcharge tax, telephone state and local tax, telephone usage charge tax; toll bridge taxes, toll tunnel taxes, traffic fines, trailer registration tax; transfer tax, generation-skipping transfer tax, utility taxes; vehicle license registration tax, watercraft registration tax, well permit tax, wheel tax and workers compensation tax … just to name a few.

In January 2005, President George W. Bush formed the Presidentʼs Advisory Panel on Federal Tax in hopes of making the tax code “simpler, fairer, and more conductive to economic growth.”

After several years of immersing their consciousness into the realms of the tax codes, the panel unleashed several theories on the current state of the governmentʼs relationship with taxes: 1) We have lost sight of the fact that the fundamental purpose of our tax system is to raise revenues to fund government.

2) Tax provisions favoring one

activity over another or providing targeted tax benefits to a limited number of taxpayers create complexity and instability, impose large compliance costs and can lead to an inefficient use of resources.

3) The current tax system distorts the economic decisions of families and businesses, leading to an inefficient allocation of resources and hindering economic growth.

4) The complexity of our tax code breeds a perception of unfairness and creates opportunities for manipulation of the rules to reduce tax.

5) The tax system is both unstable and unpredictable.

6) The objectives of simplicity, fairness and economic growth are interrelated and, at times, may be at odds with each other.

The panel developed two plans that give birth to a different mindset with businesses and capital income, and even though the new viewpoints use opposite methods, the strategies share a similar goal – simplicity and fairness for the American taxpayer.

Of course, Bush is too busy this Valentine season, showering the gifts of missiles on his desert mistresses, to heed the call of his specialty panel.

And the executive branchʼs focus stays locked on the oil-rich/religiously fanatical countries of the Middle East, feeding Bushʼs spiraling child of chaos while the income of the American people continues to disappear at an alarming rate.

In 2008, the taxpayers of America can make the federal government listen to our scorned voices and vote a true man or woman of the people into office.

It is a right granted to us by the Constitution.

Let us start using our god/science-given power of freedom of choice, for only then will the politicians truly hear our voices.

You can have Jenny cook you up something nice in the kitchen, and you can have it served in the nice bar room atmosphere provided in such a wondrous place like Tobyʼs.

I pretty much have a weekly stint at Tobyʼs, and if you have been keeping up with my columns you probably have noticed by now I mention them quite a bit.

Well, my reasoning for this, beyond the joy and excitement I experience there, is that I usually get a free drink or two when I do.

This saves money and by golly I need to save money.

So if you see Tobyʼs, you better bet Iʼm lacking the green.

With that little disclaimer aside, after your wonderful dinner and what is sure to be at least a dozen shots each, take a cab to Christieʼs Toy Box (this is me being a safetyconscious writer, and I use the term “writer” loosely) and pick out a flick with your favorite porn star.

If you do not have a favorite porn star, just find the one with the name that you can identify with most.

Now I must tell you ahead of time, there wonʼt be anyone with words like “deadfish,” “microscopic” or “loosey goosey” in their names, so if these are the terms that relate to your endowments or styles the most, youʼre just gonna have to be creative.

While youʼre there, why not pick up a toy or two. They have a wide variety, ranging from your basic pink chubbies all the way to super-sized rocket-launchers ready to satisfy even the most cavernous of women and men. Yes, men.

If you decided you didnʼt get enough food to eat they have a variety of erotic edibles that could fill the void in your stomach and your lap.

From penis-shaped lollipops to a wide variety of tasty, edible lotions and creams, your upcoming night could be one of many pleasures, including the gastronomical.

Once you take the cab home and get comfy on your couch, pop the film in and get ready for pure enjoyment, disgust or hilarity, once again depending on your personality type.

I personally go the route of laughter.

The acting is horrid, the storylines ridiculous, and the sexfests are beyond anything realistic.

The kind of stuff that turns me on is the realistically-portrayed fake

sex scenes in movies like “Monsterʼs Ball.”

Of course, if Halle Barry was in any one of the porns that I have seen in my life, then I am pretty sure my opinion would change.

Well, minus the ones that are illegal in most states.

I prefer to try to block those out of my mind no matter how unsuccessful I am in doing so.

Certain bodily functions should never be combined, including those of waste disposal. They have forever ruined my Asian fantasies. Well, almost.

One thing you can do is discuss your favorite camera shots. Some of the hardest-working camera men in the movie business are those who shoot porn.

Either they have pioneered some amazing advances in camera technology or they are masters in Twister, because the angles those lenses seem to get are nothing short of marvelous, if not gut-wrenching.

If youʼre not in it for the laughter, it is best to have a remote control handy to fast forward to all the good stuff and the overly-long sack shots.

After the porn, you should have sex, and lots of it.

Try new positions.

For those of you that are single and lonely, try a different hand or try using a T-shirt instead of a sock as a means of loss prevention.

If it helps, then fantasize.

Be your partnerʼs favorite actor, film character, friend, barnyard animal or whatever tickles his or her fancy.

For the singles out there, this goes without saying, that is unless you were unable to compose yourself during the earlier film.

With these simple, tried and true methods your VD should clear up nicely, paving the way to many wonderful VDʼs to come!

At this time I would like to thank my lovely co-workers at The Wichitan for allowing me to be my horrid, sick, insane and just plain weird self with such a wide array of hackneyed and overused ideas.

I mean, come on, as if no one thought of watching porn for VD before.

I leave you now with a little proverb that might help with contributing to the spontaneity of your VD: He who has sex on ground has piece on earth. Adios!

Lovemaking encouraged by VD

JASON KIMBRO ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Here we are with another February and another Valentineʼs Day. S o m e like to call it Singles Awareness Day or the acronym

S.A.D. I prefer to stick to plain olʼ Valentineʼs Day with the acronym VD. But I think weʼve all heard that joke before.

What can I say about VD? Well, for most men it seems to sneak up on them from out of nowhere, that is unless there is some recurring symptom that seems to pop up now and again to remind them of such a day.

I really donʼt mean to knock it as I am prone to do every year, but what fun is there in speaking of all the wondrous things it can involve?

It is a non-spontaneous date.

It is an expected card.

It is a forgotten card that leads to hurt feelings.

But yet again, in the right situation, it is an excuse to watch porn with that special someone.

Yes, porn.

That holiest of unholy genre of films that seems to lurk behind the beaded curtains of video stores.

It can be a healthy outlet for those truly seeking a totally new way to celebrate VD beyond the typical Drew Barrymore film and dinner at Red Lobster.

Hereʼs what you should do: Have an early start at a local bar that serves food, i.e. Tobyʼs.

Yes, Tobyʼs.

Have Augie fix you up something special and keep it romantic.

The shot can range depending on personality types, from the sweet and hopeful wedding cake shot to the tongue-in-cheek and Rockywearing female favorite, the blow job.

Augie will have the Reddi-Whip waiting.

Of course if youʼre looking for his superior services, youʼre gonna have to wait till Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

Hey! Having your date after VD can attribute itself to spontaneity or at least a decent fixer for forgetful Freds.

Letter to the editor

As an African-American student, I am outraged at the treatment of the AfricanAmerican organizations on campus.

We as a school tend to pride ourselves on a diverse student body, but the African American organizations are treated as bad stepchildren.

Midwestern is always claiming that they value their students, but they still believe in separate but equal.

For example, Sofia Rodriguez only informed the Panhellenic Greeks about the contest at Homecoming and “forgot” to mention it to the NPHC Greeks.

She fully supports any and every activity that is sponsored by the white Greeks, but is conveniently absent from the activities of the African-Americans.

Rodriguez continues to attempt to shut down the parties that Alpha Phi Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi host, but allows Omega Delta Phi to participate in all activities in spite of two major fights the organization has been in.

I donʼt see her rushing to shut down the “slave auction” that one Greek fraternity holds every year, but she sure was quick to try and shut down Kappa Alpha Psiʼs Homecoming party.

It is not just problems in our organizations.

There are also problems in our faculty.

I do not understand how we can say we accept all people when we donʼt even have a diverse faculty.

Dr. Rogers claims year after year that there are no qualified African-American professors.

My question to him is, Where are you looking?

The only time MSU recruits African-Americans is for some type of sport.

We are more than athletes.

We are doctors, lawyers, teachers and other prominent members of society.

Samuel Johson MSU student 99

Entertainment

Feb. 14, 2007

Across Campus MSU Democrats The MSU Democrats will be meeting Thursday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. in the Caddo room of Clark Student Center.

Elections of 2007 officers and core issues of interest to MSU students will be on the agenda.

The MSU Democrats meet twice a month on the first and third Thursdays.

Students interested in helping to make a real change are invited to join the new MSU Democrats.

For more information, contact Meghan Hull at meghull20@hotmail.com.

Student Leadership Nomination forms for the 2007 Student Leadership Banquet have recently been distributed by campus mail to all college deans, department chairs and division directors.

Nomination forms can also be completed and submitted electronically by visiting the Dean of Students Web page.

The deadline to return completed nomination forms and nominee information sheets to the Dean of Students office is 5 p.m. Feb. 19.

The Dean of Students office is located in Clark Student Center, room 104. For more information, call Debbie at 397-6273.

ʻWhat Employers Wantʼ The Career Management Center presents “What Employers Want” from noon to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 20 in Clark Student Center. Panelists from AT&T, MagicAire, Carrier Corp., Clear Channel Radio, the DEA in Dallas and Comanche County Memorial Hospital will explain how to conduct a successful job search and what human resource professionals look for on resumes, cover letters and during the interview process.

For more information, call ext. 4432.

Classic Film Series Continuing Education and Tom McNeely present the 1936 film “Sabotage” at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU, #2 Eureka Circle. A woman slowly and tragically discovers her husband is a member of a ring of saboteurs in London.

Made in England before Alfred Hitchcock moved to America, this early film introduces several themes the director would explore in his future classics.

Admission is free; donations are welcome. For more information, call ext. 4756.

ʻHannibalʼ fails to rise to any occasion JASON KIMBRO ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Entertainment Value: C Artistic Crap: B Plot/Script: F Performances: D Overall GPA: 1.50 SunKyu Yoo-Norris

Everybodyʼs favorite cannibal did have a childhood of his own.

He was a happy child with a loving family living in a lovely European castle.

Unfortunately he was raised during WWII and the Holocaust, which would be more than enough to turn a loving human being into a cannibalistic monster.

And here we have the beginnings of an icon of literature. And here we have the final utterances of desperation with feeble attempts to keep this now dwindling franchise alive.

Hereʼs the gist: Young Hannibal and his family decide to leave their beautiful castle to hide out from the Germans. They have chosen a quaint little cottage a few miles off the beaten path.

One day, whilst enjoying a nice family afternoon, some Russian tanks decide to pull into their front yard and ask for water. This gives

their position away and before you know it, German planes are bearing down upon them, literally.

The Russian gunmen shoot down the plane but apparently forget the rules of geometry as the plane crash debris lands upon all of them.

Hannibalʼs father getʼs shot and his mother gets a nice piece of shrapnel stuck in some very vital areas.

All that is left is Hannibal and his little sister Michelle. They try to hide out in the home for a while.

This becomes the final step toward insanity as some soldiers decide to take the house over for the winter.

With food running scarce, the men look toward the children for sustenance.

All we are left with is the knowledge that Michelle becomes their rations and Hannibal somehow survives the next eight years where we find him living in a boarding school made out of the castle he used to call home.

After some trials with a few bullies, the young teenage Hannibal flees from the boarding school and finds refuge with his widowed Japanese aunt. She takes him in and shows him good times that aunties shouldnʼt be showing their nephews, but what the hell, sheʼs hot and they arenʼt related by blood.

I could only wish I had a hot Japanese aunt like that who would really go out of her way to “take me in.”

He loves his aunt and will not allow anyone to say anything bad about her, so when a corpulent butcher makes some racist remarks regarding her genitalia, young Han-

nibalʼs life of murder and mayhem truly begins as he slices the butcher up with his auntʼs Samurai sword.

The story then turns to one of revenge as he seeks out the men who ate his sister.

Audiences are supposed to be in shock as he systematically, and boringly, picks them off one by one, feasting upon their cheeks.

I donʼt know, but I think I couldʼve found something a bit more creepy to eat besides the cheeks. But this is just a young little Hannibal the Cannibal. It isnʼt till much later we find him feasting upon the brains of the still-living.

This was a fun movie to watch, but it just didnʼt seem to fit the mold of the Hannibal Lecter franchise.

The opening sequence was more like an action-packed war film and the murder scenes werenʼt all that creative.

Performances were a bit dry, especially that of 22-year-old Gaspard Ulliel. He doesnʼt fit the part in personality or looks. Rhys Ifan, the wiry place-kicker from “The Replacements,” does a decent job as the main soldier behind the eating of his sister but doesnʼt make up for the lack everywhere else.

There is some gorgeous scenery and fairly well-developed scenes to help create that gloomy European feel that apparently is the only success to fitting the Hannibal Lecter mold.

The writing behind this film was laughable at times and the plot would have been a much better idea if it had nothing to do with Lecter in the first place. One of the lines that

A young Hannibal Lecter shows off his date for Valentine’s.

truly had me giggling inside was where the hot Japanese aunt is trying to give Lecter a bit of wisdom. She says: “Memories are like a knife, they will hurt you.”

I was really trying to avoid watching a film like “Norbit” but it looks

like I made the wrong choice, again.

Another movie with Eddie Murphy in bad makeup would have been a far cry better than this excuse for a Hannibal Lecter film, a franchise that continues to plummet down the proverbial Hollywood crapper.

Jay-Z, Babyface guest on Fall Out Boyʼs ʻInfinity on Highʼ KONNIE SEWELL COPY EDITOR

Forget, for a moment, everything you know about Fall Out Boy. Forget that their biggest fans are 15-year-old girls who want to have millions of bassist/lyricist Pete Wentzʼs babies. Forget that theyʼre “TRL” staples. Forget that action figures have been made of each of the four members. Forget that for most people, this band defines modern American rock.

Forget all that and just listen to the music.

The Chicago quartet have come a long way from their first album, the pitiful “Evening Out With Your Girlfriend,” which even the band themselves now disown. The follow-up to this was 2003ʼs “Take This to Your Grave,” a sonic improvement and an instant classic with Internet bloggers and scenesters alike.

But their biggest break came in 2005 with the highly anticipated release of “From Under the Cork Tree.” Au revoir, days of traveling in a stinky van, bonjour VIP treatment. Goodbye, anonymity — welcome to a world where every girl in

Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, Andy Hurley, Pete Wentz and Joe Trohman.

the country claims she slept with a band member.

Throughout it all, one thing has remained constant: Wentzʼs acidic and borderline histrionic lyrics.

Usually witty, sometimes honest, occasionally juvenile and always brutal, Wentz seems to think heʼs on a mission to call out bitches and make karma deliveries for snitches.

Itʼs not that I donʼt like Wentz.

I just find him mildly exasperating is all. I donʼt doubt heʼs suffered in his life (enough to try to overdose on pills on at least one occasion).

I donʼt doubt that he feels certain emotions acutely, or that people have done wrong by him in the past. No, the thing I doubt is his intentions with making all of his troubles so entirely public.

Itʼs funny how when Wentz, angry little boy that he is, stomps his foot everyone runs to see what the problem is. He gets most of the attention (from fans and media), but really, Fall Out Boy is all about guitarist/lead singer Patrick Stump.

And that, my friends, is the beauty of Fall Out Boy. No matter what Wentz writes, he doesnʼt sing it —

we should all thank our lucky stars for Stump. It would be easy for him to fall into a trap and sing Wentzʼs lyrics the way they are on paper, which would just be awful and as bad as any other pop-punk band out there. But Stump has a voice as smooth as butter and croons not unlike a Motown heartthrob.

It doesnʼt hurt that he also creates most of the actual music for the band. Stump is a musical genius. His melodies are always easy to sing along with but still have an edge to them.

And so, with their latest release, “Infinity on High,” Wentz takes on new material (the trappings of unwanted fame, mostly) and Stump pulls out all the stops to give us a well-rounded, undeniably creative experience. Released shortly after the cultural wasteland that is the month of January, and named after a gorgeous line written by Vincent van Gogh (“Be clearly aware of the stars and infinity on high. Then life seems almost enchanted after all”), “Infinity on High” is, Iʼm convinced, the best thing about 2007 so far.

“From Under the Cork Tree” ended with the grand “XO” and “Infinity on High” picks up the majesty with “Thriller.” Thereʼs a small cameo from Jay-Z here — itʼs not big enough for him to actually be featured on the track — whoʼs been

very vocal about his support for the band.

Besides Jay-Z, Babyface makes an appearance.

Seriously. Yes, that Babyface. Itʼs amazing what he does with the band (he produced a few songs and plays mandolin on one) and really shows how Fall Out Boy want to grow as artists while still offering something for their original fans to sink their teeth into.

Take, for instance, first single “This Ainʼt a Scene, Itʼs an Arms Race,” with its dance and R&B influences, or the piano-driven ballad “Golden,” a private lamentation about publicly falling apart.

It doesnʼt stop there, either. “The (After) Life of the Party” is unlike anything youʼve ever heard from Fall Out Boy, but this doesnʼt stop it from being the most beautiful (and stunning) song on the entire album.

This CD is comprised of very solid songs, but for every three steps forward thereʼs one step back.

“Hum Hallelujah” is boring despite dropping in a little Leonard Cohen and “Fame < Infamy” doesnʼt really go anywhere.

Still, Stump gives us some amazing melodies on “Bang the Doldrums,” “Thnks fr th Mmrs” and future single “The Carpal Tunnel of Love.” Wentzʼs lyrics, though a little trite in some places, are still fresh — surprisingly affectionate (“Best friends, ex-friends to the end, better off as lovers and not the other way around”), sexually charged (“Get me out of my mind and get you out of those clothes — Iʼm a liner away from getting you into the mood”), and even wise (“The truth hurts worse than anything I could bring myself to do to you”) and reflective (“I am Godʼs gift ... why would He bless me with such wit without a conscience equipped?”).

And, ultimately, “Iʼm Like a Lawyer With the Way Iʼm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)” lays on the cheese, but gives us the simplest and truest statement about human relationships today: “The best way to make it through with hearts and wrists in tact is to realize two out of three ainʼt bad.”

Amen, boys.

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THE WICHITAN

Entertainment

THE WICHITAN Feb. 14, 2007

5

DVDs released this week like loot bag at hit-or-miss party MCCLATCHEY TRIBUNE

Itʼs a gloriously mixed bag this week - a certified Oscar contender, an interesting independent Academy wannabe, a collection of revamped classics and an overlooked effort that had the unfortunate luck of being the second in the “Truman Capote”/”In Cold Blood” sweepstakes. Toss in another failed Hollywood comedy (someone should keep a running total on the number of these lackluster laughfests the industry releases each year) and an unusual documentary, and youʼve got a nice selection of cinema to choose from. So break open the piggy bank, plan your purchase strategy carefully and choose between these Feb. 13 releases: “The Departed” As the illustrious LL Cool J once warned, donʼt call it a comeback. Indeed, Martin Scorsese has not been hiding along the fringes of cinema, waiting for another certified gangster blockbuster to resurrect his implied lagging artistic credibility.

Since his last film, “The Aviator,” was nominated for several Oscars, it seems silly to suggest that the certified American auteur is arriving from anywhere but the top. Besides, some of his best films - “Alice Doesnʼt Live Here Anymore,” “The King of Comedy,” “The Last Temptation of Christ” - have nothing to do with mean streets and goodfellas.

This does not lesson the impact or import of this brilliant Boston crime drama - no one does operatic brutality better - but Scorsese is much more than A movie mob boss.

He doesnʼt deserve such stereotyping.

OTHER TITLES OF INTEREST: “Bicycle Thieves: Criterion Collection” Itʼs the height of post-War desperation in Italy. Citizens are still in shock over how Fascism has failed them. Then light-comedy filmmaker Vittorio De Sica decides to explore the devastation from the inside out.

The result was this seminal example of neo-realism, made even more important by the new presentation from the preservation experts.

“Half Nelson” Inner-city teacher Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) leads a lamentable double life. By day he enthralls his lower-income students. By night heʼs a raging crackhead. When the two worlds collide, an unusual sort of relationship is the result. What could be a sappy after school special is saved by brilliant acting and a no-holds-barred approach to its subject.

“Infamous” Writer/director Douglas McGrath and his wonderful all-star cast deserved better than to be considered a Capote afterthought. Indeed, this far sunnier look at the author behind “In Cold Blood” and the crime that would alter his life forever is more playful - and powerful - than the more sober, somber Oscar winner.

“Paul Robeson - Portrait of the Artist: Criterion Collection” He was Ivy League educated, sang opera as well as popular songs and was considered a real Renaissance man - an amazing triumph for a member of a beleaguered race at the turn of the century.

Thanks to Criterion, Robesonʼs career as an actor (which he ended early, arguing that there were

no good roles for blacks) can now be reviewed for all to see and celebrate.

“School for Scoundrels” Proving that it will be tough to overcome his pitch-perfect performance in “Napoleon Dynamite,” Jon Heder follows up his equally unimpressive turn in “The Benchwarmers” with this dopey relationships comedy. While Billy Bob Thorton obviously enjoys doing these kind of over-the-top slop comedies, we expect better from the man who made geeks groovy. Sadly, there is more horror than humor here.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: “The U.S. vs. John Lennon” In one of the strangest cases in the history of the federal government, the Nixon administration, in connection with Hooverʼs hated FBI, conspired to deport ex-Beatle John Lennon over his pronounced peacenik views.

Along with his obvious influence among the young and his ability to continuously capture the attention of the media, Lennon was the loose cannon the ebbing pro-Vietnam establishment couldnʼt control. The way they went about their plan, however, failed to do anything but further damage an already reeling leadership.

Now, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act and a decision to contextualize Lennonʼs cultural import, filmmakers David Leaf and John Scheinfeld have created a composite of one man and his undeniable impact on the society that surrounded him. While his death remains the biggest disgrace to his legacy, this chapter is equally embarrassing.

“The Departed” makes its way onto DVD as it prepares for the Academy Awards.

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Be sure to grab a copy next week as Kimbro will be reviewing “Ghost Rider” starring Nicholas Cage.

6

News

THE WICHITAN Feb. 14, 2007

Times___________________________________________continued from page 1 Dallas Morning News because I am from Dallas,” Nixon said. “It is nice to learn what is going on outside of Wichita Falls and see what other people think, and sometimes I use the articles for school projects.”

Senior Ashley Godwin reads The Times Record News and USA Today. The Dallas Morning News was also a paper that Godwin read.

“I miss The Dallas Morning News,” Godwin said. “I am from Dallas and I am usually unable to catch the news on TV, so it was a way for me to catch up.”

When asked what he thought

the benefits of the programs were, Lamb said: “Generally speaking, an increased awareness of current events.

In theory, this increased awareness leads to a citizenry that is more apt to engage in civic programs, have awareness of others and self, and become productive citizens.”

Lamb said as we move forward, it is essential that we, in higher education, do all we can to facilitate students engaging in active participation in the democracy.

“Active participation implies awareness,” he said.

MSU Student Government Association Student Update The office of the Student Government Association, at MSU, have been working throughout the fall semester of 2006 to ensure that most of their goals were met for that period. Although it took some time for the new officers Jason York (Vice President) and Binta Thomas (Secretary) to become familiar with their offices, the two, along with second term president, Will Morefield, were able to accomplish a few goals.

These included the newly created student corner at the SGA office, an updated Web site (which includes posted minutes) and most importantly, extension of the library hours.

The officers have also met with representatives of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Student Government Officers believe that students deserve a more efficient and cheaper way to get to and off campus, and even to other places in the vicinity of the university. This is why they are working to get two stop

He said newspapers can serve as a vehicle for said awareness.

Students, faculty and staff should contact the Office of Housing ad Residence Life with suggestions for the USA Today Readership Program.

The Office of Student Development should be contacted regarding suggestions for the New York Times Readership Program.

For any additional information, contact Keith Lamb, Associate Vice President, Office of Student Affairs, at keith.lamb@mwsu.edu

signs placed on campus, so that the public bus can access the campus.

The officers are currently reviewing projects that were presented on their campaign platform.

This semester, they are hoping to reintroduce the Student Endowment Fund.

They are currently in the beginning phases of discussing the possibility of short term student loans, and to continue with the transportation project. They are also looking forward to the upcoming JOLT conference in February 2007.

The officers will be making a presentation based on what they would have learned at a conference they attended in San Diego last October.

The officers must give thanks to Administrative Assistant Tammi Roberts who has been very efficient during the last term.

The office would publicly like to commend the senators for being respectful and patient, and also showing genuine concern for the overall well-being of students at MSU. Students are asked to visit the office between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, or to simply call at 397-4709 for additional information.

NOW MONEY FOR COLLEGE

ADRIAN MCCANDLESS | THE WICHITAN Undecided freshman Kip Spaude, 19, represents MSU’s cycling team.

Fair_______________________________________continued from page 1 in a plethora of activities, the University Programming Board might be just the ticket.

The student-led UPB meets weekly to decide what entertainment to bring to the university, according to UPB Chair Esteban Burgus, a junior economics major.

“I like to think of the UPB as the pulse of the university,” he said.

The group meets every Monday at 9:30 p.m. in the Clark Student Centerʼs Shawnee Theatre and is open to any MSU student.

“Right now weʼre looking forward to Survivor MSU, which was a big success last year,” Burgus said excitedly. “Weʼre hoping to get more people involved to help us out.”

Survivor MSU is scheduled the week of April 13 to April 20. Applications are due by March 5.

Some students may prefer the Greek life.

Stephanie Arroyo, senior business management major, stood at the Alpha Phi Sororityʼs table with other members, hoping to catch the attention of passing coeds.

“Weʼre very well-rounded and strive for scholarship,” said Arroyo, who is also the Alpha Phi president. “We are very active in the community

and we do a little of everything.”

The sorority that was known for their annual Teeter Totter-A-Thon is beginning a new tradition this year. Alpha Phi will be hosting a Red Dress Gala to help raise money to benefit Cardiac Care.

“We (Alpha Phi) like the organization fairs because we can talk to random people walking by and tell them what Alpha Phi is all about,” Arroyo said.

The men of Kappa Sigma Fraternity were also represented.

“Basically weʼre an organization about giving to the community and teaching each other the skills for life, all the things you donʼt learn in the classroom,” said Andrew Fischer, senior business marketing management major and Kappa Sigma Fraternity president.

Although the fraternity usually gets half their pledges through campus-sponsored events, it is never certain how many students they will see at the organization fairs.

“Really itʼs a roll of the dice every year,” he said.

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Softball loses FOR

THE

WICHITAN

The third-ranked Emporia State Hornets scored once in each of the first two innings, then withstood a sixth inning challenge to defeat the Midwestern State University Lady Mustangs 2-1 in the championship game of the Texas Womanʼs University Softball Tournament Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field.

MSU (6-4) could only muster four hits against No. 3 ESU (3-2) in the title game.

MSU freshman pitcher Katie Petersen scattered six hits with six strikeouts, but allowed two runs, one earned as her record fell to 4-4 on the season.

Jessica Rodriguez had the big bat for the Lady Mustangs, accounting for two of MSUʼs four hits by going 2-for-3 including a double.

Emporia Stateʼs Courtney Reed got the win with 10 strikeouts and

Sports Please recycle this paper

two walks to go with the four MSU hits.

Emporia got on the board first when leadoff batter Chelsea McClerndon struckout, but a passed ball by MSU catcher Lindsey Voigt allowed McClerndon to reach first.

After a bunt single advanced her to second, McClerndon scored the unearned run on a single to centerfield by Megan Davison.

In the second, ESU added its other run after a two out bunt single

by Laura Pfautsch, who then stole second.

McClerndon doubled Pfautsch in for the 2-0 lead.

MSU broke up the one-hitter in the fifth when Rodriguez smacked a two-out double to right center and third baseman Kristen Stonecipher followed with an RBI single.

Stonecipher stole second but was stranded on Voigtʼs groundout.

In the seventh, the Mustangs

threatened to tie the contest.

MSUʼs Tara Staten laced a oneout double to left center and advanced to third on Amanda Hillʼs ground out.

But Petersen struckout to end the game.

The Lady Mustangs play in Wichita Falls for the first time this coming weekend when they host the Mustangs Invitational, a six-team tournament at the Wichita Falls Softball Complex on Sheppard Access Road Friday and Saturday.

half as they took a 19-5 lead going into the break.

The second half saw a more determined Tulsa team with fresh legs as the Golden Hurricane scored on two tries with a speedy backline to close the gap to 19-17.

MSU however put the game away with a late score to go up 2417 over Tulsa and MSU kicked the ball out of bounds on a penalty to end the game.

MSU had a 10 minute break before taking the field again against UMR.

MSUʼs fitness and stamina were the key factor as they pounded the ball down the field with ease manhandling UMR the entire game scoring on seven tries.

The field conditions proved difficult for MSUʼs kickers as they missed all seven conversions and two penalty goals.

The game ended in a 35-0 wallop of the Miners from UMR. MSUʼs next match will be Feb. 24 as they open up their division II playoff run in the quarterfinals against a team to be determined.

THE WICHITAN Feb. 14, 2007

7

Rams trot by Mustangs, 89-88

Thanks, The Wichitan staff

Rugby team wins 2, warms up for playoffs FOR

THE

WICHITAN

The MSU rugby team traveled to Oklahoma Saturday to take on the University of Tulsa and University of Missouri-Rolla.

This was the first action for the 17-player rugby team this semester as they prepare for the Texas Division II playoffs.

MSU kicked off their first match against Tulsa, who had beat Missouri in an earlier match.

Midwestern dominated the first

Wade a minute: Go Cowboys?

MCCLACHY TRIBUNE

Jerry Jones placed his legacy as an owner and general manager in the hands of a native Texan.

The success of Wade Phillips, son of a legendary coach and father of an aspiring coach, will define whether Jerry is thought of as an oil and gas man, who lucked into three Super Bowl championships because Minnesotaʼs Mike Lynn made one of the dumbest deals in NFL history, or whether heʼs remembered as the

Cartoonist and Columnists Needed!

Call The Wichitan at 397-4704 and leave a message.

guy who pulled a great franchise out of an abyss.

While the atmosphere was relaxed Thursday at Phillipsʼ news conference, Jones understood the importance of the moment.

Twice, emotions overwhelmed him.

His voice quivered and he needed time to compose himself. Whether you think heʼs a genius or a fool, understand the Cowboys are his life.

So when the criticism comes as it should after 10 years without a playoff victory, especially from fans, it hurts.

The Cowboys are more than just another successful business venture.

“We needed to get this right,” Jerry said. “In my mind, we got it right. I just feel a real obligation beyond the ownership thing. I feel an obligation to do every little thing we can to have a winning team.”

Recreational Sports - Menʼs Basketball TEXAS TOP PROSPECTS def.

THE ACES 57-55 KINGS OF THE COURT def.

KANEKI 82-72 KOBE def. GRANDE PELOTAS 52-27 THE FUTURE def. MAD DOG 79-35 DEM BOYS def. CSO 53-39

Volleyball team to have tryouts FOR

THE

WICHITAN

The MSU womenʼs volleyball team will host an open tryout for the next seasonʼs team on Feb. 24.

The tryout on Saturday afternoon is from noon to 2 p.m. in D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

The tryouts are open to all women interested in playing intercolle-

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giate volleyball. Graduating high school seniors must have completed their high school eligibility in order to participate.

Junior college transfers are also encouraged to attend.

Players must sign a liability waiver in order to participate and those under 18 must have a parent sign the waiver as well.

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ADRIAN MCCANDLESS | THE WICHITAN MSU’s Christopher Davis, 24, flies past an Abilene Christian defender for a lay-up last Wednesday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs beat the Wildcats 93-67 but fell to Angelo State 89-88 Saturday.

IGGY CRUZ

STAFF REPORTER Marcus Hubbardʼs threepoint play with two seconds remaining capped a comeback win for the Angelo State Rams Saturday night, downing the visiting Mustangs 89-88 at Stephens Arena.

MSU (17-5, 6-2) led 88-83 before Ontario Mckee sparked a five-point outburst in a matter of eight seconds with a threepointer to pull the Rams (8-14, 3-5) within two points.

After a costly MSU turnover inbounding the ball, Hubbard capitalized on the error and followed through on a layup while being fouled.

Hubbard then sealed the game-winning free-throw to upset MSU and snap the teamʼs five-game winning streak.

Hubbard finished with a game-high 32 points and pulled down six rebounds while Mckee chipped in 19 points and 10 assists.

Seniors Chad Rickett and Drew Coffman paced MSU with 20 points apiece.

Eric Dawson recorded a double-double with 18 points, 12 boards and two blocks while Chris Davis added 12 points.

Despite the loss, the Mustangs shot 61 percent from the floor and grabbed a game-high 36 rebounds.

MSU went 0-for-3 in three point attempts in the second half, while ASU connected on eight and outscored the Mustang bench 22-11.

MSU will hit the hardwood Saturday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum when they host Texas A&M-Kingsville. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.

The Mustangs were also home last Wednesday, hammering Abilene Christian 93-67 on Gerald Stockton Court.

Dawson had a monster game with 20 points, 16 rebounds, five blocks, four assists and three steals.

Coffman finished with 15 points and six assists while Rickett added 14 points.

MSU took a 43-36 lead at halftime after ACU slashed a 14-point lead from a 17-3 Mustang run.

MSU and ACU exchanged six lead changes in the first 11 minutes of the game.

The second half was a different tale for the Wildcats as the team shot 29 percent from the floor and 30 percent from beyond the arc.

The Mustangs also managed 17 fast break points, while ACU managed only four.

Tiago Souza nailed back-toback three pointers to pull the Wildcats within six points, but the Mustangs ran away with the game on a 14-2 run for the win.

Souza came off the bench to lead ACU with 19 points while Igor Vrzina finished with 11 points.

Chris Davis and Chris Francois chipped in nine points apiece for MSU.

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THE WICHITAN Feb. 14, 2007

NBA player comes out of closet Rams hammer Mustangs, 72-31 MCCLACHY TRIBUNE

John Amaechi came out of the closet.

So far there hasnʼt been a stampede to join him.

Itʼs likely to stay that way unless somebody is very brave or naive.

There have been the usual declarations of enlightenment, but a pro athlete would have to be brave to admit heʼs gay.

He would also be incredibly naive to believe the words of David Stern: “We have a very diverse league.

The question in the NBA is always, ʻHave you got game?ʼ” he said.

“Thatʼs it. End of inquiry.”

The commissioner has to say that for appearanceʼs sake, but he knows better.

If not, he needs to pop in Allen Iversonʼs CD on his drive home tonight.

“Come to me with (pejorative for gay) tendencies, youʼll be sleeping where the maggots be.”

You donʼt need to know the actual lyrics to understand that A.I. would not enjoy having tea with Meech.

Itʼs not fair to single out Iverson.

His CD was released when he was younger, and his maturity was often called into question.

Now heʼs older, and his maturity is called into question sometimes.

But the NBA is full of young guys who donʼt exactly sit around reading the collected works of W.H. Auden.

Itʼs also not fair to single out the NBA when it comes to gays and tolerance.

Itʼs not even fair to single out sports in general.

Thereʼs a deeper strain of homophobia, but itʼs hardly limited to the testosterone world.

Jerry Seinfeld once joked he had a quota of naked men he likes to see per month: Zero.

If it was wrong to laugh at that, a lot of people were guilty.

And Iʼll admit to laughing at the now-infamous Snickers ad during the Super Bowl.

Two mechanics are munching on the same candy bar and end up kissing.

They recoil and rip away chest hair to re-establish their manliness.

Gay-rights groups protested, and the ad was pulled from Snickersʼ Web site.

I donʼt know whether it was all a publicity stunt by Mars Inc., but its ad agency certainly knew how to push a hot button.

There are few hotter than this one.

Some say itʼs just a matter of a big-time athlete pulling a latter-day Jackie Robinson.

If one would break the homosex-

ual barrier, an enlightened society would see how backward its thinking has been.

But for many, this isnʼt a matter of prejudice or diversity.

Itʼs a question of morality.

That breeds political firestorms much larger than a gay athleteʼs right to openly shoot free throws.

If our nation canʼt peacefully resolve that issue, weʼre sure not going to do it here.

I will say that anyone who blindly would ridicule Amaechi does not know him.

Not that I really do, either, but he was a delightful guy when he played for the Magic six years ago.

The Englishman liked to sip hot tea and ponder things much deeper than zone defenses.

He also turned down a six-year, $17 million deal from the Lakers for a one-year, $600,000 contract from Orlando.

He did it because he felt the Magic needed him more.

Iʼd nominate Amaechi as a role model long before some of the guntoting avowed heterosexuals in the NBA. But reality says it doesnʼt matter how great a guy is. If heʼs gay and comes out, “It would be like an alien dropping down from space.”

Amaechi said that in 2002.

Five years later, weʼre still ripping out chest hair at the mere thought of being gay.

Whereʼs our pride? Give some love to all MSU sports JOSH MUJICA SPORTS EDITOR

Happy Valentineʼs Day, everybody!

Iʼm here to show my love for sports and MSU. Iʼve been to quite a few Indian/Mustang games during my five years here in good olʼ Wich-

ita Falls and Iʼve noticed a lack of school spirit in certain sports.

Itʼs not that it isnʼt there completely; itʼs just that it is usually in full force only on the opening home game of each particular sport.

Why canʼt tennis, cross country, softball and rugby get the same show of support as basketball and football?

I say we use some of our increased tuition to have pep rallies in the coliseum for all the sports.

I mean, our athletes work hard everyday to represent MSU the best they can.

They, too, have the same homework assignments we do.

We might be busy all the time but going out and cheering on your school beats sitting on your butt and playing video games.

I know we did it in high school, so why canʼt we go support all of our college teams?

Letʼs paint our bellies and faces and get it hype at a rugby game.

Or make signs and yell at a tennis match.

Go support these teams. One of the players might be sitting next to you in a class. Show some love!

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated Presents the Second Annual Leadership Forum: “Building Success for the Future” Thursday, February 22, 2007 Leadership Workshop Midwestern State University Clark Student Center Charlie Chen, DFW Technology Sessions: 12:00 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

Shawnee Theater Shawnee Theater Shawnee Theater

Individual Sessions: 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Atrium

Dee Ann Martin, Advantage Realtor Group Sessions: 12:00 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

Bill Sink, Real Living Real Estate Wichita I and II Wichita I and II Wichita I and II

Individual Sessions: 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Atrium

Annette Quintana, Team Excel Sessions: 1:30 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

Wichita I and II Wichita I and II Wichita I and II

Individual Sessions: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Atrium

Sam Pierre-Auguste, QNet Information Services Sessions: 1:30 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

MSU’s Brandi Bush (21) and Halie Jacobs (10) storm an ACU player. MSU won, 66-50.

IGGY CRUZ

STAFF REPORTER The Lady Mustangs dropped from a four-way tie for third place in the Lone Star Conference South Saturday night after falling 72-31 to the Angelo State Rambelles.

The 31 points scored set a new MSU mark for fewest points scored since the 1975-76 season, when records were first kept.

The previous record was 35 against West Texas A&M in the 1987-88 season.

Sonya Calhoun-Courtney led

MSU (11-11, 4-6) with 10 points and Andrea Buben chipped in six.

The Lady Mustangs shot 19 percent from the floor in the first half and 21 for the game, while only managing to go 4-of-8 from the charity stripe all game long.

MSU never had a lead in the game and were outscored 43-10 by the ASU bench.

Tiffany Hardwell had a gamehigh 14 points and seven rebounds, while Lindsey Leatherman and Ashley King each finished with 11 points.

The team will travel to Denton today to take on Texas Womenʼs.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

MSU hosted Abilene Christian last Wednesday and came out with a 66-50 shocker.

Calhoun-Courtney led the team with 16 points and Stacey Staten added 11 points with eight boards.

Andrea Buben also contributed 10 points.

The Lady Mustangs shot 50 percent in the first half, including a 19-1 run with 2:47 left before cooling down in the second with 30 percent.

Alex Guiton led ACU with 16 points while Lacey Blau finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated Presents the Second Annual Leadership Forum: “Building Success for the Future” Thursday, February 22, 2007 Leadership Panel Midwestern State University Akin Auditorium 7:00 PM General (ret) John Phillips C.E.O. of Phillips Defense Consultant Former Vice President of Home Depot Former Under Deputy Secretary of Defense

Cheyenne Room Cheyenne Room Cheyenne Room

Individual Sessions: 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Atrium

Sessions: 12:00 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

ADRIAN MCCANDLESS | THE WICHITAN

Shawnee Theater Shawnee Theater Shawnee Theater

Individual Sessions: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Atrium

Kennard Hill Senior Advisor, President Health Care Division Perot Systems

Major General (ret) Mary L. Saunders Executive Director, TWU Leadership Institute Texas Woman’s University William Blair, M.D. Past President and Fellow of the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, Orthopedic Surgeon Free tickets may be obtained at the Clark Student Center Information Desk.